It’s about damned time. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has just approved a plan to occupy the Gaza Strip in order to force Hamas to surrender and release the hostages.

Here’s the news via the New York Post:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to order a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip to force Hamas to free the hostages, according to local reports.

The expansion of the war would see the military, which already controls about 75% of Gaza, take over the remaining areas and conduct operations where the hostages are believed to be held, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The move was reportedly made without the input of the Israeli military’s chief of staff Eyal Zamir — with Netanyahu instructing him to fall in line or resign, according to the internal memo sent out.

The decision to escalate the 21-month war comes despite calls from within Israel and around the world to find a diplomatic end to the fighting — with growing backlash over widespread hunger in Gaza and concern for the safety of the hostages.

Senior Israeli officials who discussed the occupation plan with Netanyahu believe that Hamas will not free the remaining 50 hostages without being forced to surrender, local Channel 12 reported.

That view has put pressure on Netanyahu and his cabinet following the recent release of Hamas propaganda videos showing emaciated hostages suffering and begging for food and water inside the terror group’s tunnels.

“If we do not act now, the hostages will die of hunger and Gaza will remain under Hamas control,” the officials told the local outlet.

As you know, we said from the beginning that this must happen in order to prevent Gaza from ever becoming a Muslim terrorist staging ground. And I’m glad Netanyahu is finally making it happen. This war has gone on too long and Hamas must be forced to release the hostages via surrender, which Netanyahu has said all along. Biden prevented Netanyahu from doing this long ago, but you can bet the Israeli PM has President Trump’s full backing.